Phillips v. Warden of Perry Correctional Institution

GSES DSR O/ ips. a Sa a HS Rorsp IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA GREENVILLE DIVISION WILLIAM JOE PHILLIPS, § Petitioner, § § vs. § CIVIL ACTION NO. 6:19-cv-2156-MGL § WARDEN OF PERRY CORRECTIONAL § INSTITUTION § Respondent. § ORDER ADOPTING THE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION AND GRANTING RESPONDENT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Petitioner William Joe Phillips (Phillips) filed this 28 U.S.C. § 2254 petition against Respondent Warden of Perry Correctional Institution (the Warden). Phillips is self represented.

The matter is before the Court for review of the Report and Recommendation (Report) of the United States Magistrate Judge suggesting to the Court the Warden’s motion for summary judgment be granted. The Report was made in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Civil Rule 73.02 for the District of South Carolina.

The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to this Court. The recommendation has no presumptive weight. The responsibility to make a final determination remains with the Court.

Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270 (1976). The Court is charged with making a de novo determination of those portions of the Report to which specific objection is made, and the Court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge or recommit the matter with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

The Magistrate Judge filed the Report on May 13, 2020, but Phillips failed to file any objections to the Report. “[I]n the absence of a timely filed objection, a district court need not conduct a de novo review, but instead must ‘only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order to accept the recommendation.’” Diamond v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005) (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 72 advisory committee’s note).

Moreover, a failure to object waives appellate review. Wright v. Collins, 766 F.2d 841, 845-46 (4th Cir. 1985).

After a thorough review of the Report and the record in this case pursuant to the standard set forth above, the Court adopts the Report and incorporates it herein. Therefore, it is the judgment of the Court the Warden’s motion for summary judgment is GRANTED; and Phillips’s § 2254 petition is DISMISSED WITH PREJUDICE.

To the extent Phillips moves for a certificate of appealability, his request is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Signed this 28th day of May, 2020, in Columbia, South Carolina. s/ Mary Geiger Lewis MARY GEIGER LEWIS UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

***** NOTICE OF RIGHT TO APPEAL The parties are hereby notified of the right to appeal this Order within thirty days from the date hereof, pursuant to Rules 3 and 4 of the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure.